Pogles' Wood
Encyclopedia
Pogles' Wood was an animated British
Children's television series produced by Smallfilms
between 1966 and 1967 and screened by the BBC
between 1966 and 1968 as part of the Watch with Mother
series. The Pogles were tiny country folk who lived in a tree. The four principal characters were Mr Pogle, Mrs Pogle, their 'son' Pippin and a squirrel-like creature, Tog, who was Pippin's playmate. The 32 episodes were shot in stop-frame animation in Peter Firmin
's barn or shed.
This first series which set the scene for the later Pogles Wood - six episodes of ten minutes each - told the story of how the Magic Plant came to live with Mr. and Mrs. Pogle.... and also revealed the truth about Pippin's identity as the foundling son of the King of the Fairies.
could make a further series about more everyday countryside matters. These were called Pogles Wood, and the first series centred around a view of farm and countryside life through the eyes of Pippin, Tog and the Pogles. The second series had a stronger storytelling element, where Pippin and Tog would often find an item, bring it back to the storytelling plant, who would bring it to life (possibly a precursor of the later Bagpuss
).
Series 2 (October 1967- January 1968):
in the 1970s.
Episodes of Pogles Wood, selected by its creators, were released on DVD by the Dragons Friendly Society in 2006.
Puppets and Pictures
Voices
Music
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
Children's television series produced by Smallfilms
Smallfilms
Smallfilms was a British company that made animated television programmes for children, from 1959 to the 1980s. It was a partnership between Oliver Postgate and Peter Firmin . Several very popular series of short films were made using stop-motion animation, including The Clangers, Noggin the Nog,...
between 1966 and 1967 and screened by the BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
between 1966 and 1968 as part of the Watch with Mother
Watch with Mother
Watch With Mother was a cycle of children's programmes broadcast from 1952 by BBC Television which was created by Freda Lingstrom.It was the first BBC television programme specifically aimed at pre-school children, like its radio equivalent Listen with Mother that also started in 1950...
series. The Pogles were tiny country folk who lived in a tree. The four principal characters were Mr Pogle, Mrs Pogle, their 'son' Pippin and a squirrel-like creature, Tog, who was Pippin's playmate. The 32 episodes were shot in stop-frame animation in Peter Firmin
Peter Firmin
Peter Arthur Firmin is an English artist and animator. He was the founder of Smallfilms, along with Oliver Postgate. Between them they created a number of popular children's TV programmes, The Saga of Noggin the Nog, Ivor the Engine, Clangers, Bagpuss and Pogles' Wood.-Early life:He trained at...
's barn or shed.
First series - "The Pogles"
The first series featuring Mr and Mrs Pogle was called simply 'The Pogles' and was broadcast in 1965.This first series which set the scene for the later Pogles Wood - six episodes of ten minutes each - told the story of how the Magic Plant came to live with Mr. and Mrs. Pogle.... and also revealed the truth about Pippin's identity as the foundling son of the King of the Fairies.
Episodes
The Magic Bean, A Silver Crown, Pogle Go Home !, A Flower For Wishes, The Singing Bird. King of The Fairies.Later series - "Pogles' Wood"
However, the story centred around a very dark and evil old shape-changing Witch, and was so scary that after broadcasting the series only once - the BBC declared it "too frightening" and asked if Oliver PostgateOliver Postgate
Oliver Postgate was an English animator, puppeteer and writer.He was the creator and writer of some of Britain's most popular children's television programmes...
could make a further series about more everyday countryside matters. These were called Pogles Wood, and the first series centred around a view of farm and countryside life through the eyes of Pippin, Tog and the Pogles. The second series had a stronger storytelling element, where Pippin and Tog would often find an item, bring it back to the storytelling plant, who would bring it to life (possibly a precursor of the later Bagpuss
Bagpuss
Bagpuss is a 1974 UK children's television series, made by Peter Firmin and Oliver Postgate through their company Smallfilms. The title character is "an old, saggy cloth cat, baggy, and a bit loose at the seams"...
).
Episodes
Series 1 (April 1966-June 1966):- Grains of Wheat
- Milk From The Dairy
- Honey Bees
- Sheep's Wool
- Eggs For Breakfast
- Trains
- Pig-In-The-Middle
- The Secret House
- Noisy Engines
- Badgers and Bears
- Tree Farming
- Cake Crumbs
- Keep Clear of The Water
Series 2 (October 1967- January 1968):
- Woodwinds
- Strong Music
- A Little House
- Bears In The Wood
- Bricks
- A Paper Tiger
- The Princess and The Jewel
- Flowers
- Kings and Queens
- Clocks
- Woodwork
- Roundabouts
- Umbrellas
Annuals and reissues
The Adventures of Pippin and Tog was a popular children's annual bookAnnual publication
An annual publication, more often called simply an annual, is a book or a magazine, comic book or comic strip published yearly. For example, a weekly or monthly publication may produce an Annual featuring similar materials to the regular publication....
in the 1970s.
Episodes of Pogles Wood, selected by its creators, were released on DVD by the Dragons Friendly Society in 2006.
Production staff
Writer- Oliver PostgateOliver PostgateOliver Postgate was an English animator, puppeteer and writer.He was the creator and writer of some of Britain's most popular children's television programmes...
Puppets and Pictures
- Peter FirminPeter FirminPeter Arthur Firmin is an English artist and animator. He was the founder of Smallfilms, along with Oliver Postgate. Between them they created a number of popular children's TV programmes, The Saga of Noggin the Nog, Ivor the Engine, Clangers, Bagpuss and Pogles' Wood.-Early life:He trained at...
Voices
- Olwen Griffiths – Mrs Pogle and Pippin
- Steve Woodman – Plant and Tog
- Oliver Postgate – Pogle, The Witch, King of the Fairies, Hedgepig, Fairies
Music
- Vernon Elliott, the British bassoonist